The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-09
NEW YORK BABIES.
What the Nurses Who Go To Picnics
Do With Them.
Ney York Letter to Boston Herald.


Nety York Letter to Boston Herald.
A genuine adventure in July was enjoyed
by lady whom / know. 1t proved that
the babies of enormous wealth could tell
strange stories if they could talk My
friend went in pursuit of a cook She bad
chased this animal to liar in East Six
teenth street, where, in towering rear
tenement house, dwelt uncounted families
She had passed through a paved court, in
which dripping hydrant had formed
hideous pool, about the Shiny edges of which
played dirty, miserable children. In the
arms of one of the biggest and filthiest,
girl of dozen years, was a sickly child
of as many months that attracted her at
tention. 1t was an angelic little crea
ture. The tiny fingers, that lay listlessly
on q grimy old rag of a petticoat,
were unsullied, and altogether the baby
was an exotic among weeds. The lady Won
dered at this as she picked her way through
the offensive place and climbed the stairs TO
a murl1y little room on the fourth floor.
The hunted cook had gone ''to see a place."
SO her sister said AS the visitor stood talk
ing of the cooks probable return. she saw
on the bed a magnificent cashmere embroid-
cred cloak, little cap OF rich lace, and
pile of lawn and flannel baby petticoats.
The incongruity of this outfit with the
squalid room struck her as forcibly as the
presence of the pale flower of child in the
courtyard below had done. AS she went
out she asked the child nurse in the yard
whose the baby that she carried was
ats me little brother-Twat are We Civ
ing meF returned the hoodlum, and the
lady fled, frightened at the impudent re-
marks of the gang. Nevertheless, at
o'clock she ventured TO return, to see the
cook, and, as she went up stairs, she over
took much dressed and very much flushed
young woman bearing the blonde baby on
her hip. The poor things face was slneared
with dirt, and It's little hands bore evidence
that it had been creeping on the green and
reeking bricks of the court yard. Into the
room OF the cooks sister bounced the girl,
and, while the lady talked TO the
prospective servant, the child was
hastily cleaned and put into the rich
clothing that still covered the bed. In the
shadow of the inner apartment, this opera
ton was performed, while scraps of CONVEX
sation about the presence of Tim Kelly and
Andy McGee at Jones Woods informed the
lady that the nurse girl had been to a
picnic.
My friend hurried away, and getting into
her coupe, babe the driver not to lose sight
of girl and baby when they should come
out. In a few minutes the chase began, up
avenue A to twenty-third street, behind a
cross UOWn cur VI IhbllsOu dNtHue uHUll
girl climbed out at Thirty-seventh street,
ran along a couple of blocks to stately
mansion and disappeared into the base
ment.
The excited lady went up the steps, and,
when her summons was answered by q
portly butler, she asked to see the mistress
at once The wife and mother soon heard
the story. 1t was fine situation when that
nurse girl was called up and asked about
l.. 81. Gsbn had lLaafa In.
trail Park all the time, she said. She
had had the baby in the donkey carts,
and watching the soups, and then rode
down in the Broadway cars. Great were
the thanks bestowed on the former by the
mother Of the child. Time and time again,
when this delicate child was supposed 10 be
taking the air OF the parks, II had been
stripped of its fine clothing, In order 10 keep
them fresh, dressed in dirty, thin rags, in
stead Of warm hannels, and left TO contract
diseases in the ietld courtyard Of a sicken-
ing tenement building